Mary Yamin-Garone

A recent visitor to my website asked, “Why do you write? I see you have great experience and awareness but I’m curious about something I didn’t see. WHY do you write?”

My dream was to be a singer until I heard my voice, which led to dancing. Not. Two left feet!

Seriously…as long as I can remember I have loved to write. It was in my DNA. When I was 10, I’d go to work with my father―an editor for one of the local newspapers―on Saturday. I’d stand next to him as we watched the pressmen place the metal pieces of type on the linotype press. The huge cylinders would spin at lightning speed, transferring the ink to the large sheets of paper. I can still remember the smell of the ink and the sight of my father overseeing the “run” with that thick black charcoal pencil tucked behind his ear. (BTW: I still use those pencils!)

If that wasn’t enough, my mother wrote poetry.

I knew I wanted to be just like them. I wanted to be a writer. Writing became my passion. I wrote stories, poems and letters and kept journals. I would write on napkins, matchbook covers, little scraps of paper—whatever was nearby when an idea popped into my head.

Today, I’m an award-winning writer and editor and the President and CEO of The Ys One Writing Service. I also help coaches, speakers, individuals and entrepreneurs turn their message into a book that increases their income and positions them as an authority in their field. 

In addition, I’ve built one of the most supportive online communities for writers, “Book Writing Strategies for Individuals and Entrepreneurs.”

Last year, I launched my coaching program, Write Your Best-Selling Book. It’s not your typical program. I show you how to put all your fears and insecurities aside so you can turn your most important life experiences, knowledge and wisdom into a book. 

While writing is my passion, it’s not the only thing I’m passionate about.

I've served as the guest of honor and speaker at Fashion Night Out, a charity fashion show and silent auction to raise money and awareness for Alzheimer’s. I also have participated in the annual Memory Walk, raising over $15,000 for the cause. In addition, I've written and published extensively on a full spectrum of topics related to Alzheimer’s and dementia and launched a podcast that helps demystify the disease for others.

I'm also a self-proclaimed run junkie (I've been running for 36 years.); a lover of big dogs (I have two, Moses and Spartacus.); and an advocate for Alzheimer’s caregivers (My mother suffers from the disease.).